Testing and Certifications for Herbal Teas and Extracts

Short answer. A test or a seal tells you that someone checked a particular thing, in a particular batch or process. It does not by itself tell you the tea works, or that every box is the same. What was checked varies by program, so the useful question is always "checked for what?" We name no programs or brands; the sources we read describe the checks, not individual seals.

What testing can look at

None of these measures whether a tea has any effect on health; for that, see how much research tests the tea itself.

Who checks what

• United States, supplements. FDA regulations require those who manufacture, package or hold dietary supplements to follow current good manufacturing practices that help ensure identity, purity, quality, strength and composition. [10] It also says it does not approve dietary supplements before they are marketed, has limited resources to analyze them, and focuses first on emergencies and products that may have caused injury. [10] For how the rules apply to teas, see are herbal teas regulated and how supplements are regulated.
• European Union, herbal medicines. The EMA says a full quality dossier is required for all herbal medicinal products, even where safety and efficacy data requirements are simplified. [11] It also says EU herbal monographs should not be confused with European Pharmacopoeia monographs, which cover quality requirements. [11] How a herbal tea sold as a food is checked in the EU is not described in the sources we read.
• Organic. The USDA National Organic Program accredits third-party organizations to certify farms and businesses against national organic standards. [12] The USDA labeling page says organic products must be overseen by a USDA-authorized certifying agent. [13] See organic labels and pesticide residues.
• Words like "standardized". NCCIH says "standardized", "verified" and "certified" do not necessarily guarantee product quality or consistency. [14]

Independent seals

What you can check yourself

• The label. Dietary supplement labels in the US must give the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer or distributor. [10] Whether a tea sold as a food must do the same is not described in the sources we read.
• Ask the maker. The FDA recommends contacting the manufacturer for more detailed information about a specific supplement than the label provides. [10] Reasonable questions are what the company tests for, whether it tests each batch, and whether it will share the results.
• Report problems. The FDA invites reports of harmful effects or quality defects through its Safety Reporting Portal; see side effects and reporting. [10]
• Ask a pharmacist. A pharmacist can read an ingredient list with you and check it against your medicines. The FDA advises talking to a doctor, pharmacist or other health care professional before deciding to use a dietary supplement. [10]